SFL - Acquisition of two car carriers in combination with five-year charters

Press release from Ship Finance International Limited - 24.10.2012

Press release from Ship Finance International Limited, October 24, 2012

Ship Finance International Limited (NYSE:SFL) ("Ship Finance" or the "Company"), today announced that it has agreed to acquire two car carriers at attractive prices. The Japan-built vessels have a capacity of approximately 6,500 car equivalent units (CEU) and were built in 2005 and 2006, respectively.

The vessels will be time chartered to an investment grade logistics company, publicly listed in Asia. The charter period will be five years, adding approximately $85 million to our charter backlog. Expected delivery of the vessels will be in October and November 2012.

The funding of the vessels will be a combination of equity and loans, and Ship Finance has already received indications for 70% financing of the purchase price at favorable terms. The aggregate net cash flow after estimated operating expenses, interests and loan amortization is projected to be approximately $4.8 million in aggregate per year, or approximately 20% annual return on invested equity during the charter period.

Ole B. Hjertaker, CEO of Ship Finance Management AS, said in a comment: "We are very pleased to expand our long-standing relationship with one of the premier logistics companies in Asia. The purchase price is very attractive compared to replacement cost for similar high specification assets, and there will be an immediate positive cashflow effect for the Company already in the fourth quarter."

October 24, 2012The Board of DirectorsShip Finance International LimitedHamilton, Bermuda

Ship Finance is a major ship owning company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: SFL). Including newbuildings, the Company has a fleet of 68 vessels, including 25 crude oil tankers (VLCC and Suezmax), two chemical tankers, three oil/bulk/ore vessels, 11 drybulk carriers including two newbuildings, 15 container vessels including four newbuildings, six offshore supply vessels, one jack-up drilling rig, one ultra-deepwater drillship, two ultra-deepwater semi-submersible drilling rigs and two car carriers. The fleet is one of the largest in the world and most of the vessels are employed on long-term charters.

More information can be found on the Company's website: www.shipfinance.org

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward looking statements. These statements are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including Ship Finance management's examination of historical operating trends. Although Ship Finance believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond its control, Ship Finance cannot give assurance that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or intentions.

Important factors that, in the Company's view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in this presentation include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions including fluctuations in charter hire rates and vessel values, changes in demand in the tanker market as a result of changes in OPEC's petroleum production levels and worldwide oil consumption and storage, changes in the Company's operating expenses including bunker prices, dry-docking and insurance costs, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, and other important factors described from time to time in the reports filed by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.